Carrie Fisher will still appear in Star Wars Episode IX

Numerous media outlets are reporting that Carrie Fisher, who passed away last December, will finish the modern Star Wars trilogy and act as General Leia in Episode IX. With filming for Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) wrapped up, fans expected her to show up in the next installment. But considering the tragedy, the announcement of Fisher’s appearance in Episode IX is a surprise.

Mark Walton of Arcs Technica wrote, “Carrie Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourd and Todd Fisher have granted Disney the requisite rights to use recent footage of the actress for the finale. An extensive CGI recreation will not be used. Fisher is understood to have completed filming for Star Wars: The Last Jedi (episode 8), with extra footage from that filming likely to make up the bulk of her appearance in Episode 9.”

The use of a CGI Princess Leia and Grand Moff Tarkin brought heated debate to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story last year. Some fans felt the models looked creepy and unrealistic.

After Fisher died, Disney decided to respect her memory by promising never to use a CGI Leia again.

This news brings a few questions. How much extra footage is Disney sitting on? How big of a role does Fisher play in Episode IX? Did they plan to use the extra footage for IX, or did plans change course?

Billie Lourd (Fisher’s daughter) and Todd Fisher (her brother) gave their blessings to use Carrie Fisher.

“Both of us were like, ‘Yes, how do you take her out of it?’ And the answer is you don’t,” Todd Fisher told the New York Daily News (via Gamespot). “She’s as much a part of it as anything and I think her presence now is even more powerful than it was, like Obi Wan–when the saber cuts him down he becomes more powerful.”

For those who cannot wait, Gamespot also reveals a few key spoilers on Fisher’s final Star Wars appearances. The possible scenes sound fantastic, if true.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set to release in theaters everywhere on December 15th.